Interviews
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 Antiques Diva Interview with Abstract Artist Tina Steele Lindsey
Dear Diva Readers,
Long term Diva Readers might remember that when I took the “Define Your Style in One Picture Challenge” I proclaimed, “The Antiques Diva’s Style is all about Art & Antiques juxtaposed against Modern Glamour”. It’s the decorating vision behind this mission statement that had me going gaga the first time I viewed the artwork of Tina Steele Lindsey. Numerous emails later (and months pouring over each other’s blogs) she and I had formed what can only be defined as a Mutual Admiration Society as we discovered that we each share a passion and intensity for our life work that make it more a spiritual calling than a profession.
When Tina commented that she was looking for a European representative for her art commissions, I jumped at the chance and am proud to announce that Diva Enterprises will be Tina Steele Lindsey’s European representative.
Steele is a second generation artist after both parents, mother Jane and father Victor Denfrey Steele. Her introduction to painting was in her father’s studio where he instructed her in Russian Impressionism methods. She is more concerned about the emotion a painting exudes than anything else – simply put, if she is not inspired, she does not paint. Without inspiration – no matter how wonderfully executed a painting is – if there is no inspiration there is no life in that painting. Steele believes you can stand in front of a Michelangelo, then a Whistler, then a Graydon Parrish, and know the art of inspired beings and through her work she shares her inspiration.
Following, I’d like to share with you an interview I recently conducted with Steele Lindsey.
Antiques Diva: Tell me about your art and your process.
Tina Steele Lindsey: Currently I have a handful of projects going, a couple of oil studies and a few abstract pieces. I am working on a piece for a gentleman in Atlanta who just purchased a new home and has written often to me about the more masculine and strong pieces I have done. Everyone has a favorite style, I tend to mix things up, a little of this and that, traditional works and abstract, back and forth kind of thing, I love it all, love doing it all.
Antiques Diva: I am particularly interested in your abstract works – each work evokes an emotion or a mood. They are proof positive that inspiration is necessary in creating great art.
Tina Steele Lindsey : My process in creating abstracts is pretty basic, and I am not certain I can explain exactly how they are created; they just seem to create themselves. Abstract paintings, despite their appearance, are not easy to do as there is no visual reference to go by as with still life or figures. I don’t think about a painting ahead of time or work out samples on paper. I did initially when I first started but stopped after a period as I found it limited my natural painting inclinations.
I usually begin with putting some music on that suits my mood and stand in front of the canvas until I feel the need to put something down. Next thing I know I’ve put something else down, and so on and so forth until I feel the painting is complete. I use oil or acrylic solely based upon on how quickly I need a painting to be dry.
Antiques Diva: Through conversations we’ve had in the past, I understand that you also use your computer to help you “see your art”. Could you explain that?
Tina Steele Lindsey: When I feel I am nearly through with the piece I take a photo and upload it on the computer and view it. Viewing on the computer puts a whole other spin on how I perceive that painting. If I am not satisfied, I go back and paint some more.
Antiques Diva: How does inspiration come into play when you are painting on commission.
Tina Steele Lindsey: If I am creating a work for a specific space I review all the details of a space ahead of time and create a mental image of that space in my mind. Then I keep that image at the forefront of my thinking while painting. I also select music I feel is appropriate for the space and begin painting in the same like manner, but this time I do keep that mental image in my mind.
Antiques Diva: I love that you can create a unique work for a home – to fit the space, the atmosphere and your clients. You know that my passion for art began as a result of how it changed antiques when they are paired or juxtaposed together. I think abstract paintings next to antiques often make each piece stronger together than they are alone.
Tina Steele Lindsey: My thoughts regarding modern art combined with antiques? It is my thinking that the combination can be as fabulously wonderful as it is in any contemporary settings but the secret regarding any setting is that it should be the right piece. Then again there are those who purchase art for art’s sake, they love it and care nothing about whether it goes with their décor. It is all relative. The wonderful thing about having a piece commissioned is if décor is your main concern you will have much greater success having one commissioned than visiting a hundred galleries to find just the right piece
Antiques Diva: You make a good point about how some people choose art for art’s sake alone while others choose art of decoration. Go further on this idea.
Tina Steele Lindsey: If a space is already well defined then a piece can be created to fit in and still make its own statement. There is a vast difference between fine art and what we all know as decorator art. What I do is consider every detail regarding a space along with the desires of the client and transform that information into a fine art piece.
Antiques Diva: And how could one commission a special painting by you?
Tina Steele Lindsey: Anyone interested in commissioning a painting is welcome to contact me directly (and please tell me The Diva sent you) or go through The Antiques Diva™. I also work with interior designers and more. General pricing info will always be provided and I am always open to considering reasonable offers for unique situations.from a client who is far away in order to get started on a project?
Tina Steele Lindsey: I work from photos, renderings, fabric and flooring samples, paint samples, plus I need an idea of furnishings, etc. This has worked amazingly well, no problems. The only problem I’ve ever encountered is someone wanting to purchase a client’s commissioned painting out from under them, offering twice for it without knowing the price! That is an interesting story – and a compliment – but it is certainly something I wouldn’t do! Once I paint for you, the painting is for you and you alone.
Antiques Diva: And what do you require from a client who is far away in order to get started on a project?
Tina Steele Lindsey: I work from photos, renderings, fabric and flooring samples, paint samples, plus I need an idea of furnishings, etc. This has worked amazingly well, no problems. The only problem I’ve ever encountered is someone wanting to purchase a client’s commissioned painting out from under them, offering twice for it without knowing the price! That is an interesting story – and a compliment – but it is certainly something I wouldn’t do! Once I paint for you, the painting is for you and you alone.
Antiques Diva: Before we close I have one last question – could you tell me about what artists have inspired you?
Tina Steele Lindsey : I am most inspired by figurative artists and sculptors and really good landscape artists. Some of my favorites are Aaron Westerberg, George Inness, Ignat Ignatov, Graydon Parrish, Singer-Sergeant, Whistler, the list goes on. Now as far as abstraction goes I try to view very little of it if I can as I don’t want to be influenced in any way by what is out there regarding abstract – I want to stay true to my own ideas.
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ART CORE INTERVIEW ~ Donald Kolberg, November 2009
Art Core is celebrating the remarkable work of a very gifted artist this month.
Art Core: When did you first realize you were an artist?
As far back as kindergarten I remembered being puzzled as to why classmates would draw people with stick arms and legs. Though I liked their happy faces I didn’t want to draw people that way. My parents painted which certainly had everything to do with my awareness that bodies had form. Instead of stick figures I drew ballerinas in tutus and slippers dancing across a curtained stage. I was happy in art, my favorite time in school, but never underestimate how the power of words and how they are said can greatly affect a small mind.
Sometime shortly after second grade my impressionable ears overheard a person of authority say as humans were all uniquely different, each with something uniquely special to offer and we were obligated to find out what that was. I took that straight into my child’s understanding to literally mean I needed to be different than my parents. In youthful ignorance I made a conscious decision that there were two other people in the family who painted, it was their special thing, and I needed to find out what my something special was. I concentrated on dance and music, other things, until adulthood brought new responsibility and demands upon my time. I even played music professionally for a time, but it wasn’t until my father tricked me into doing a still life in his studio that I realized art was in my very core, it was my very core, and I’d wasted a whole lot of time.
Art Core: You have a variety of styles. Could you tell us some more about your work?
That has a lot to do with an insatiable desire to cram a lot of art experience into an accelerated amount of time. I began with loose impressionism, and then tightened up for a period, and now I find I often combine the two. I do not limit myself to canvas if a need calls for something else. I work in oils and acrylics, pastel at times, and can often be aggressive with color but then turn around and do something 100% in the opposite direction.
Art Core: When you paint a portrait you capture a spark of that person. How do you translate that emotion into painting?
That is very generous, thank you so much. It doesn’t hurt that I love people. They are beautiful and complicated. As a child throughout my teenage years I adored playing the staring game, the one where two people stare into each ether’s eyes and the first to look away loses. I got really good at that game. It taught me to never shy away from looking deeply into a person’s eyes. Eyes truly are the window to the soul and the longer you look the more you know. I try to tap into whatever is going within that person, take that in and absorb it, and then translate that into the work. I am definitely much more concerned about capturing an essence than creating great work. I guess to sum it up it isn’t a technical thing for me, but rather a personal thing. All my painting is personal. To be frank, I don’t know how I do any of it.
Art Core: What famous artists have influenced you, and how?
Bouguereau, Whistler, Singer Sargeant, Westerberg, Kassan, Puliese, Lindstrom, Ignatov, Lipking, Taylor (Justin), Alexander Volkov. I could literally go on and on. I’ve recently discovered the wonderful Graydon Parrish. All of these artists are masterful with conveying mood and emotion; it simply oozes from their work. No matter how technically well executed a painting may be, if it doesn’t have life it makes me uncomfortable. Must have life, emotion, passion.
Art Core: What do you do for fun (besides painting and drawing)?
Seriously not much right now. My husband and I use to do a lot of trail riding, and I really miss that. We are both self employed and free time often is not an option. We must work all aspects of business which takes a great deal of time. On occasion his work spills into mine and vice versa. We do well to go to a restaurant once every couple of weeks. But that is okay, that is what it takes.
Art Core: What inspires you to create art?
Music and viewing good portraiture inspires me, but I rarely view abstract art if I can help it. Abstracts have to come from someplace within, there is no visual to go by. They can be very difficult and if not done while in the moment a work will turn out visually contrived. I have kind of a photographic memory when it comes to paintings anyway, so I never want another abstract to influence what I do. How do I keep motivated when things get tough in the studio? I’ve learned it is best to walk away and come back with fresh eyes and spirit in order to keep from overworking a painting.
Art Core: How have you handled the business side of being an artist?
The business side is a necessary evil and takes entirely too much time away from the creative process. I’ve reluctantly removed the comment option on my blog in some small effort to remedy serious time constraints. Something had to give as I couldn’t possibly live with myself if I did not respond to each and every comment left by readers. Other than that one must be creative and work all angles. The art market is a tough market, especially in this economy.
Art Core: What advice would you give to an artist just starting out?
Never give up, just don’t do it. If you cannot afford to do it full time, paint when you can. And if at all possible, find someone to assist with the business end!